During a meeting covering processes, budgets, and reports, LBCC maintained a focus on people.
LBCC board of trustees, students, faculty, staff, and members of the community attended the monthly board of trustees meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 27 at 5:30 p.m. in the T-1100, board room at LAC.
Board president, Sunny Zia, called the four hour meeting to order to a group of around 70 people.
Vice President of Student Support Services, Mike Munoz lead a nine person panel that delivered a 97 slide presentation on an update of supports & resources for African-American/black students.
The presentation was broken down into four blocks: pre-boarding & community engagement; student enrollment & on-boarding; moving through LBCC: academic & co-curricular supports; and transfer & completion.
According to the presentation, numbers were mixed on enrollment and matriculation, seeing some small increases; African-American/black students have a higher proportion of low GPAs.
Supports such as comprehensive educational plans and the Umoja Learning Community increased success rates across the board for African-American students.
Dean of Language Arts and communication Lee Douglas covered the section on cultural equity.
“There is still a lot of work to be done with regard to our African-American faculty representation here at Long Beach City College,” Douglas said.
According to the presentation, the African-American student body represents 14% of LBCC students, while LBCC faculty is only 8% African-American.
“I am embarrassed,” area two trustee, Vivian Malauulu said, referring to the percentage of African-American faculty at LBCC.
The board presented a resolution in recognition of black history month and encouraged future events and support of the African-American community, before moving forward with meeting agenda items.
During the human resources portion of the agenda, the board recommended Math Success Center Coordinator, Sundee Dominguez for California Community Colleges Classified Employee of the year.
Dominguez was nominated by her colleagues for professionalism and demonstrating the highest level of a Vision for Success, the California Community Colleges mission.
After administrative services gave an update report, the board voted to present an action at the March meeting, regarding a pilot program for per ride bus passes; in hopes the program will reach more students who need help with transportation.
Bus pass advocate, LBCC student and parent Rene Woodson went to the podium to share her opinion about the bus pass issue with the board.
“I have watched my godson over at Cal State Long Beach pay five dollars, where my son and other students here have had to jump through hoops to try and get it,” Woodson said.
Just before the meeting adjourned, the board heard a statement from political science major, Aba Dabrim Carter, regarding self advocacy of financial aid.
Doug Otto arrived late and left before the report on board travel expenses could be delivered by the individual members.
The next LBCC board of trustees meeting will be on March 27 at 5:30 p.m. in T-1100 at LAC.